And adin wbston and leander



F. H. CHASE, A. WESTON 8: L. BABBIT. OBBTBI'BIOAL surronrna. No. 7,573.

Patented Aug. 20, I860.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. CHASE, OF CLINTONVILLE, NEV YORK. AND ADIN 'WESTON AND LEANDEB RABBIT. 0F AUSABLE, NEW YORK.

OBSTETBIGAL SUPPORTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,573, dated August 20, 1850.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS H. Cruse, of Clintonville, in the "county of Clinton, and State of New York, and Ann: 3151021, and Leanna Baunrr, of Ausable, in the county and-State aforesaid, have invented a new and Improved Obstetrical Sup orter and Assistant; and we do hereby eclare that the following is a true, full, and complete description of our invention.

The nature of our invention consists in the combination and arrangement of an instrument denominated an Obstetrical Supporter and Assistant, designed to support and relieve a woman during parturition and render delivery easier, more speedy and safer, being so constructed as to adjust perfectly to the body and limbs and protect the oscoxix from all pressure of the foetus and thereby enlarge the measurement of the pube coxigeal space, secure to the patient a pliant and comfortable seat and posture support and comfort to the back, the sacrum and the hips, and prevent those distressing pains of the thighs which frequently occur 1n delivery under ordinary treatment.

In order to enable others to understand and use our invention, we shall now proceed to describe in detail the construction and operation thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the instrument detached, taken looking towards the back part. Fig. 2, is a view of the instrument attached to the person. Fig. 3, is a plan or top view of the seat. Fig. 4, is an inside view of the sliding plate.

Similar letters always refer to the same parts.

The instrument is made of straps and webbing of any stron material, united by metal swivel joint-s ant buckles, to an india rubber seat and back pad or cushion, so formed as to permit of inflation and a metallic sliding plate, attached to the back pad.

A, is the seat which consists of an inflated cushion of india rubber or other suitable material having a recess in front, which onablcs the patient to sit comfortably, leaving the outer parts of the pube-coxigcal space free from pressure and at the same time leaving room for the uccoucher or other attendant to perform his duties without incommoding the patient.

B, is the back pad which consists also of an inflated cushion of indie rubber or other flexible material; it is of nearly uadrangular form being rounded ofi' at t e corners, and is connected to the back of the seat A, by means of three straps and buckles a, a, a, which allow it to be adjusted nearer to or further from the seat, one strap being in the middle and the others at the side.

C, is the sliding plate which is of metal of any suitable thickness; it is connected by means of two small straps b, b, to the back ad B, the said straps being attached by 0th ends to the pad and passing through metal loops k, k, on the inside of the late; the said sliding plate is capable of eing easily moved up or down as may be required for the support and relief of the atient. Attached to the sliding plate C, y means of hinges or swivel joints 0, 0, one on each side, are two strong thigh straps D, I), each of which is made of two pieces united by means of a small adjusting strap and buckle e, and at its lower end is divided into forks f, f, which are fastened by swivel 'oints g g, to leg straps E, E, that are united y an ad usting strap and buckle h. Fast-ened by the same swivel joints 9, g, is a knee strap F, which connects the forks f, f, and also a handle, 1'.

The mode of application and the operation of the instrument are as follows: The indie rubber cushions being properly inlisted with air, the patient is laced in a recumbent posture on the seat as shown in Fig. 2, and the ad B, bearing against the small of the ask. The connecting straps are then adjusted to the person; the straps D, D, are passed down the outside of each thigh; the strap F, over the knee, just below the joint, and the stra s E, E, down both sides of the legs, the hol ow of the foot restin against the loop or stirrup which they orm. The lpatient takes hold of the handles 11, i, with ier hands, and the adjustment of the instrument on the person is complete. The limbs being fully extended when the instrument is thus arranged, the pad B, bears against the back and affords it and the muscles brought into play great relief during the pains of labor. And by means of the sliding plate C the point of hearing may be shifted a or down at pleasure by the attendant wit out disturbing the patient, comforting and relieving her with great ease and certainty.

It will be observed too that by the eculiar arrangement and construction 0 the straps in connection with the pad, and the swivel joints that whatever may be the position of the body and limbs, the thigh straps retain their place in a line with the pelvis and leg and whether the limbs be flexed or extended the straps are kept in their right laces on the le the patient at will maltmg the feet or $1293 or both the feet and knees the points of bearing; both of these ositions being illustrated in Fig. 2, the nee of the left 1e being bent and the knee of the right lim being extended. The knee straps F, bein attached by swivel joints to the thigh an leg straps, will yield to the change in the osition of the legs and will always retain t eir proper place below the knees and will not slip over the knees after the legs have been extended.

The inflated indie rubbez cushion A is an easy seat and the pad B, adapts itself to all forms and thus the ressure is uniform on all oints of the bac aving described in full the construction and operation of our obstetrical supporter and assistant; what we claim as new and useful in our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- The combination in the manner described of the sliding plate C, with the back pad B, which is connected to the seat, for the purpose of enabling the bearing of the instrument to be moved higher up or lower down the back without disturbing the patient.

F. H. CHASE. ADIN WESTON. LEANDER BABBIT. 

